If you are planning your February elementary music lesson plans, then you’ll want to read this blog post.
Keep reading to get tips and sample lesson plan ideas you can use in your K-6 music classes.
TIP 1
Choose the concepts you want to teach this month. Do any of them overlap with another grade?
TIP 2
Find materials that teach those concepts.
TIP 3
Try to use materials in more than one grade.
SAMPLE LESSON PLAN OUTLINES using Sing Play Create Resources.
KINDERGARTEN & FIRST GRADE
CONCEPTS:
- Steady Beat
- Pitch that moves High and Low
- so mi
- Playing so mi (do)
- Singing so mi
- Melody
- Bass
- Ostinato (Triangle)
LESSON PLAN:
Vocal Warm Up with Valentine’s Day Vocal Explorations.
Sing “Valentine’s Day”, Play beat, and word rhythms. (Next lessons play instruments)
Play instruments on (K beat, 1 rhythm of words) only
Learn the song/Solfege so-mi “If You Are My Valentine?” and play the game.
Play the game
Use Movement Activities and Play alongs to supplement the lesson activities.
Suggested:
Valentine’s Day Scarf Activity Video, Brain Break, PE, Music, Creative Movement
Valentine’s Day Move and Freeze Brain Break, Exercise Activity
RESOURCES:
Vocal Explorations: Valentine’s Theme Vocal Activities, Animated K-3 – Love Bugs
Steady Beat and Rhythm Charts, Cards, Activities L1: Valentine’s Day Music
These activities can be used in grades K-3.
Valentine’s Day Orff Game Song , Lesson so-mi “If You Are My Valentine”
Valentine’s Day Music Lesson: “Valentine’s Day” Kodaly, Orff, Mp3
I like using this activity with K-3.
It’s got a great steady beat that Kinders play on instruments.
First grades can play the Ostinato on Triangle- which they love!
My 2nd and 3rd graders play all parts.
It’s a nice arrangement that brings all of their skills together in one song.
DIFFERENTIATION IDEAS: Kindergarten- focus on the Steady Beat and singing high and low pitch.
First Grade-focus on rhythms, clapping, playing words and Ostinato.
SECOND & THIRD GRADES
Mi so la (do)
Rhythms: Quarter notes, Eighth notes, Quarter rest, half notes
Play Instruments-Wood Blocks, Triangle, Bass and Sop Xylophone
Sing and sign a melody using solfege
Melody Notes (C D E G A) Pentatonic\
Ostinato
Melody
Bass
LESSON PLAN:
2 LESSON IDEAS:
A
Warmup: Sing “Everyone Can Be A Friend”
Sing “Who Will Be My Valentine?” , Play beat, and word rhythms. (Next lessons play instruments)
Print the sheet music as needed for student or teacher use. I use the big notes for my students. You also get printable heart graphics to use for the games.
Sing the song and play instruments (save the game for 2nd or 3rd class)
Play the ostinato
Sing and Play the songs and games with all 3 parts.(2nd class)
Use the Steady Beat and Rhythm Cards for students to practice creating rhythms.
Use this activity in small groups where students share their creations.
B
Warmup: Sing “Everyone Can Be A Friend”
Practice/Prepare or Present Solfege so-mi-do-la, learn a pentatonic melody.
Sing and play on instruments.
Play the game “Pass the Valentine”
Use this activity across grades levels. Kinders can play the beat and play a bordun on C. Grades 1-3 can play melody as well as the Ostinati parts.
Use the Steady Beat and Rhythm Cards for students to practice creating rhythms.
Use this activity in small groups where students share their creations.
RESOURCES:
“Everyone Can Be A Friend” SEL Song, Friendship, Valentine’s Day Activities
Music Class Valentine’s Song, Game Lesson: “Who Will Be My Valentine?”
Valentine’s Music Game Song: “Pass the Valentine” Rhythm, Melody, Improvisation
DIFFERENTIATION IDEAS:
Focus on the main concept you want to have your students learn. If it’s the solfege, then sing and sign the melody every time they sing.
If it’s playing a pentatonic song, then work a lot on the xylophones playing the melody.
It’s important to keep the concepts that you can ideally teach and students can learn. If you are only doing the activity for one class time, choose to focus on one concept.
Third Graders can improvise rhythm parts (Ostinati) in the “Who Will Be My Valentine?” Game song and play all parts.
FOURTH & FIFTH GRADES
CONCEPTS:
- Melody
- Bass
- Ostinato
- Form
- Playing and singing 2 parts together
- Rhythms: quarter, eighth, half notes,dotted quarter, dotted half notes
LESSON A
Sing the Song “Who is on the Coin?” parts A & B
Learn the rhythms and the Ostinato
Sing two parts together
Play melody, bass & Ostinato on instruments
LESSON B
Sing the song “”Lincoln and Washington”
Learn the rhythms and the Ostinato
Play melody, bass & Ostinato on instruments
Worksheet activity
DIFFERENTIATION IDEAS:
Consider the skills of your students. If they need work playing in an ensemble together, these activities provide many opportunities to hone those skills.
RESOURCES:
President’s Day Coin Rap, Orff Arrangement & Games “Who is on the Coin?”
President’s Day Orff Song, Lesson and Game: “Lincoln and Washington”
2 arrangements in the key of F and C, 4 Worksheets (2 each for K-2, 3-6)
Looking for more February Music Lesson Activities?
READ THIS POST: FEBRUARY MUSIC ACTIVITIES
FREE FEBRUARY MUSIC ACTIVITIES
I hope you got some ideas for February elementary music lesson plans from this post.
Thanks for reading!